Election candidates state their differences at CARA Q&A
Election period closes at 8 p.m. on Oct. 22
About 75 people took a couple of hours out of their afternoon Sunday to hear from Clearview Township candidates.
Christopher Vanderkruys (pictured from left) and Doug Measures are running for mayor; Anthony Sist and Thom Paterson are running for Ward 5 councillor and Donna Baylis and Doug McKechnie are running for Ward 2 councillor.
Candidates were given a few minutes each to introduce themselves before taking questions from moderator Greg Young, speaking on behalf of the Creemore and Area Residents’ Association (CARA), the host of the event held at Station on the Green in Creemore. The floor was then opened to the public.
Themes of the say were economic development, the environment, housing, development at Cashtown Corners, customer service from township staff, and development controls from oversight agencies like the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and the Niagara Escarpment Commission.
In addressing the need for seniors’ housing, Vanderkruys said he would consider offering incentives to developers willing to build seniors’ housing and that the township is realizing it may need to take the lead.
Sist said he would like to see the Nottawasaga and Creemore Public School annex converted to seniors housing, if the NVCA would loosen its controls on floodplain mapping.
To close, Young asked candidates what differentiates them from their opponent.
McKechnie said he would be more balanced in his approach to issues and is pro-development, saying he is enthused by the possibilities of developing an aviation business park at the Collingwood Regional Airport, which was recently sold by the Town of Collingwood into private hands, fetching a price of $4.1 million.
Baylis said she is more on the anti-development side, preferring to preserve the environment and the Niagara Escarpment, while embracing technology.
Paterson said he brings a lot of experience to the table and has a focus on basic services and a desire to reform council to better define its role in governance.
Sist said he brings a fresh perspective to the table and would prioritize spending and take care of infrastructure.
Measures said he works collaboratively and that council is a group that has to work together and in a three-way partnership, with staff and the public.
Vanderkruys said he does have a business approach to being mayor and has the required leadership skills to bring urban and rural together.
